PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION & TRAVEL EXPENSE

Louisiana Workers Compensation insurance is responsible for the cost of any medication or medical devices that your doctors prescribe for you during your claim. 

Some Louisiana Workers Compensation insurance companies provide injured employees with prescription cards to present to their pharmacist at the time of purchase. You do not owe a co-payment or deductible when using one of these cards. 

Other Louisiana Workers Compensation insurance companies require the pharmacist to contact an insurance company representative each time a prescription needs to be filled. This often results in unnecessary delay and significant frustration. It's important to remember that insurance companies are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. If you're required to obtain approval for each prescription, don't wait until Friday afternoon or the weekend to go to the pharmacy. But if you forget, or if it's important that you get your prescription filled immediately, you can pay for your medication and submit your receipts to the insurance company for reimbursement.

The insurance company should also reimburse you for any travel expense that you incur to receive medical care.  As of July 1, 2008, travel expenses are reimbursed at the rate of fifty-two per mile for use of your vehicle, but may also include other transportation expenses in some claims. You should periodically submit a statement of your expenses, and any supporting documents, to your employer's Workers Compensation insurance company for reimbursement. Be certain to keep a copy of any information that you provide to the insurance company.  Download a copy of the form we use for submitting mileage reimbursement requests.

If you're unable to drive or do not have access to a vehicle, we will help you arrange for medical transportation. Remember, if your ability to drive is impaired by prescription medication, you are not only putting yourself and other drivers in danger, you are often breaking the law. Plus, if you get into an automobile accident while you are under the influence of pain medication, you may not only have problems with the police, the Traffic Court, the other driver, the passengers and the automobile insurance companies, if you are injured in an automobile accident, your employer may use this as a pretext for terminating your Workers' Compensation benefits. Don't drive when you're taking strong pain medication. Call us and we will help arrange transportation to get you to your appointments with your doctors.

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